Today is the first day of the 2.0 version of "Linked World" being released.
Tens of thousands of players eagerly logged into this game, their consciousness accelerating through the pathways of unknown technology, breaking the barriers of space and dimension, once again arriving in this unknown world.
Moreover, the scale of players this time is even larger compared to the 1.0 version.
Although it's technically a card game, the realism of "Linked World" is ridiculously high; its huge map, vivid graphics, and NPCs with intelligence so real you could mistake them for human in every aspect are enough to attract large numbers of players.
Interestingly, although it might be hard to believe, Youyu himself is now a major factor in attracting players.
"You'd never find an NPC this stunningly handsome in any other game!"
That's what the top thread in the forum reads, followed by tons of replies and likes.
The post is packed with Youyu's glorious moments in-game, pieced together from various video clips and highlight reels.
Even Youyu himself stumbled upon the post, and after briefly browsing through it, he nodded lightly.
Not bad, half of my true handsomeness is already quite something.
But there are indeed many new players drawn in by those screenshots and edits.
Impeccable looks, with a black coat billowing like waves behind him, and the Masked Hero standing like a guardian in the background of the screenshots—it's overwhelming handsomeness!
"Honey, stop playing cards and come home with me!"
"Mom, I'm in love! What? You want to meet my boyfriend? Then quickly lie down in the game pod, I'll take you there..."
"..."
There are even some girls who, upon seeing one screenshot and that face value, felt inclined to join, not even clear what the game is called or how card playing is done.
Typical late-stage face collectors, their values swayed by looks.
Isn't it just playing some cards?
For such a handsome guy, it's not just learning to play cards—even learning... other complex things isn't out of the question!
So here's the problem: given the high popularity of the game and the eagerness of people wanting to join, why are there only a few million players so far?
The answer is… there's no quota.
Indeed, Linked World isn't just any game; not just anyone who wants to can enter. To get into the game, one needs a quota.
Many people question why the quota is so tight? Why not let more players in, and earn more money, wouldn't it be better?
The official response is, it's a technical issue.
Because "Linked World" is unlike any existing game, there are technological challenges yet to be overcome, so there is a limit on the number of people it can accommodate.
However, after updating to version 2.0, this upper limit has expanded. New quotas have been issued by the officials, allowing more chosen lucky participants to enter the Linked World and start their card-playing journey.
What "technical issues" refer to is said to involve trade secrets and hasn't been disclosed.
It seems that the more people who enter, the smaller the obstacle?
But unlike several years ago, a time when this world was unprepared for the players.
While they behaved oddly and sometimes crazily, no one doubted back then that they were from other dimensions, nor did anyone think there was anything wrong.
But now it's different.
Ever since the "Duel Links" system was developed, Kaiba Company's research confirmed the existence of dimension planes—rumor has it President Kaiba even personally visited other dimensions—and players' origins have been speculated somewhat.
Many believe these Duelists are strong individuals from other dimensions.
Kaiba Seto sees this as evidence that the "Duel Links" system would eventually be completed officially.
And now, on the first day of its release, almost the entire forum is heatedly discussing one topic—
——Youyu-san is missing!
This is undoubtedly a major event.
Six years have passed, a whole new era and version, suddenly Youyu-san seems to be everywhere... yet nowhere to be found.
Saying he's everywhere refers to his influence as the "Duel King" being visibly greater than before. Domino not only has a personal museum about him, products and advertisements endorsed by him, but even features a "Duelist Mansion," with an art style looking like it might be from the wrong scene.
Since the game went online, large groups of players have already gathered beneath this building to admire its style. Bodyguard Izono has personally led the charge, putting in great effort to stop the "enthusiastic" crowd from storming inside.
That's right, Uncle Izono has been temporarily assigned to maintain security at the "Duelist Mansion."
These days, trying to make a living without card play isn't easy. Uncle Izono introduces himself when out saying I'm Kaiba Seto's bodyguard—yes, the one who can leap out of jets and summon White Dragons wrapping people's faces, and people would burst into laughter...
Actually, with Uncle Izono's skills and experience, he could quit his job and start his own company, maybe become a "Bodyguard Hero" or something.
As for Youyu being nowhere to be found, it's literally true.
Youyu's harem... ah no, his fan support group has searched Dream Card Shop, his residence, the Nightwalker World Association, and even Kaiba Company, but Youyu is nowhere in sight.
At this moment, Xue Lang and several other members who've regrouped from the fan support group, after running to various places still without a trace of Youyu-san, are starting to feel disheartened.
Right now, they're standing on the street, contemplating what to do next.
"Youyu-san wouldn't really abandon us, right?" Miss Yue Hua murmured dejectedly.
Today, as soon as she logged into her livestream, it was bustling with viewers. Suppressed viewers for several days were eager and expected, under Miss Yue Hua's guidance, to catch a glimpse of the famously handsome Duel King Youyu-san.
Viewers sent gifts and stream donations eagerly, only to end up with this?
Where is Youyu-san?
The audience is anxious, and Miss Yue Hua exclaims, I'm freaking anxious too!
The gifts have been received, what should she do if Youyu-san doesn't appear?
She's just a poor, helpless little streamer, barely surviving by selling cuteness without Youyu-san... how should she compensate?
No no no!
Miss Yue Hua hurriedly shook her head to dismiss some dreadful thoughts.
She believes Youyu-san surely isn't the type of man who abandons recklessly!
Everyone heatedly discusses the next steps, only to notice Heart Flying with the Wind squatting to one side as if unconcerned, studying something on the ground.
Cola Sprite couldn't help but ask, "What are you studying?"
Eyelines follow, discovering he's looking at... ants crawling on the ground?
"I heard you guys say everything in Yu-Gi-Oh can be a card game?"
"Yes," said Cola Sprite.
"So, is it possible for me to play cards with these ants?"
Cola Sprite: "..."
MDZZ!
They continued their discussion until Jianan Tao even thought of a silly idea, "Why don't we kidnap Mokuba..."
Until a voice sounded behind them.
"What are you guys doing here?"
The silly group's responses were instantaneous as if electrified.
They all turned their heads, eyes casting over with full faces of surprise and intake of cold air.
"Youyu-san!!!"